BRIDGE players who say the classic card game should count as a sport took their case to court yesterday.

The legal battle erupted after government-backed funding body Sport England refused to recognise bridge as a sport because it does not involve “physical activity”.

The English Bridge Union insists that the competitive game, which is synonymous with genteel British life, has health benefits for the mind.

Lawyers for the EBU, which has 55,000 members, told the High Court in London that bridge is based on rules, fairness and competition – just like other pursuits which are classified as sports.

Richard Clayton QC said the definition of sport in the 1996 Royal Charter which established Sport England was broad enough not to require physical activity. Darts, model aircraft flying, ballooning and angling are all officially recognised.

Related articles

The funding body said a sport is defined as an “activity aimed at improving physical fitness and well-being, forming social relations and gaining results in competition”. It said bridge is no more of a sporting activity than “sitting at home, reading a book”.

Arguing for dismissal, Kate Gallafent QC said: “The EBU is effectively asking the court to change the well-settled policy of government that the funding of sport... should be limited to sports involving physical activity.”

Ben Jaffey, representing the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, said it was common ground that bridge was a game of the mind.

He added: “There is nothing objectionable about bridge, chess or similar mind games. But the sports councils are entitled to separate mind games from physical activities when deciding who to recognise.” The case continues.